Klarinet Archive - Posting 000361.txt from 2000/08

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] CD re-recording.
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2000 23:35:44 -0400

> -----Original Message-----
>
>
> One of the CDs that I purchased at Clarinetfest99 in Ostende has
> a very low
> signal level. Even if I turn up my amp all the way, the volume
> from the CD
> is very, very low. Is there a way to copy this CD to CD and boost the
> volume level somehow?
>
> Fred (fsheim@-----.com)

It depends on how it was recorded. If the overall levels on the disc are
low, you can increase it pretty easily. If there is stuff that is loud and
stuff that isn't (you know, dynamics), you will have a much harder time.

When I do this, I import the sound on to my computer sound programs and do
what is called "normalizing" the sound. This increases your loudest point
in the file to just under digital 0, the highest possible level on the disc.
You can do this pretty easily in a program like Sound Forge XP (about $50, I
think).

If they made the disc so it was normalized over the entire disc, you won't
end up increasing the levels at all. The only other step is to compress the
audio and thus make your overall dynamic range less. Then you can get more
volume out of your disc. Be careful with compression, however, as it can
really ruin the sound of the recording if not done with utmost care.

Also, when putting sound on to your computer, remember that it takes up
10MB/minute of stereo CD quality sound.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Fifth Circle Audio
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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